The Legislative Branch--Practice 1 (Powers of Congress)

Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely support?

• The United States Constitution explicitly provides a mechanism for the legislative branch to override an executive veto.

• The creation of state and federal legislative bodies would create confusion about the ability of the federal government to make laws. 

• The impeachment process could potentially be used to limit the principle of popular sovereignty.

• Judicial review represents an overreach of authority by the judicial branch.

Which of the following scenarios would be considered an unconstitutional use of federal power?

• The federal government passes a law that increases the cost of postage stamps. 

• The federal government ratifies a Constitutional amendment.

• The federal government sends a U.S. ambassador to Bolivia. 

• The federal government enacts a law that increases the amount of currency in circulation.

Answer explanation

Which of the following constitutes an enumerated power of Congress granted to the legislature by the U.S. Constitution?

• The ability to change state boundaries

• The power to borrow on the credit of the United States

• The authority to grant titles of nobility

• The ability to levy taxes on state exports

Answer explanation

The answer that usually students chose i --the ability to levy taxes on state exports... this answer is wrong ... Congress can levy taxes on income tax but not on state exports...see picture attached.

The Affordable Care Act of 2009 authorized the government to require all individuals to purchase health insurance coverage or face a series of fines. Which enumerated power was cited by Congress as the basis for its authority to make the law?

• Granting letters of Marque and reprisal

• regulating Commerce

•  issuing copyrights and patents

• creating uniform rules of naturalization

Which of the following accurately represents the information presented in the chart above?

• Medicaid and Medicare spending represents a larger proportion of the budget than spending on Social Security.

• The proportion of the budget spent on domestic social spending is higher than the proportion spent on defense.

• The federal government spends a larger proportion of its budget on net interest than on Medicaid. 

• Medical care constitutes the largest proportion of spending within the federal bureaucracy. 

When he wrote these words, James Madison was defending which principle of government?

• Federalism

• Republicanism

• Separation of powers

• Judiciary Review

What type of agreement between the United States and another country requires the approval of the Senate?

• Executive Agreement

• Policy Regulations

• Business Initiatives

• Treaty

How does Congress influence economic policy?

• Reviewing potential economic bills in committee

• Regulating the supply and price of money

• Approving all taxes and most expenditures

• Debating economic bills on the floor

What is the best conclusion regarding federal spending for the 2015 U.S. budget?

• Social entitlement programs accounted for over half of the U.S. budget.

• Military and veteran benefits combined surpasses all other expenditures.

• In 2015, the U.S. did not allocate funds toward the debt repayment.

• Science and Education were budget priorities in the 2015 budget.